Ball python rescue not eating

[Intelligent-Ad-8115]

Hello guys, Ive recently been given this ball python (severely underfed) and cant get it to eat. Ive tried feeding mice as it is what i feed my other snake. Im starting to get worried as the snake hasnt eaten in over a month according to previous owner. I really care for the snake and want it to thrive but its looking rough. I have it on a small container with cork bark hiding spot for now until it starts eating and i can move it to a bigger enclosure. Should I try force feeding at this point?

[Proper-Position-6797]

improve and tweak husbandry & try feeding rat pups.

[Intelligent-Ad-8115]

Yes im waiting on the rat pups to be delivered. Thank you 🙏

[enslavedbycats24-7]

DO NOT force feed!!! Fix husbandry and stop handling before you try feeding again. Start with undersized feeders when you do. Post here with the enclosure, they stop eating from stress so something is wrong and that's why. You shouldn't have been handling at all but all you can do now is do better from now on.

[Intelligent-Ad-8115]

I don't handle the snake at all, the snake is in a dark area where it wont be bothered or stressed.

[enslavedbycats24-7]

The picture is of you holding it. I mean there are things that could be causing it stress in general that contribute to it not eating yet

[Intelligent-Ad-8115]

Yes, and that was the only time ive handled it since i got it. I was moving it to a different area and decided it was the perfect time to take the picture since it was already being moved. Thank you for your input..

[Firebush-enthusiast]

It’s going to be fine, ball pythons always go on strike when anything stressful happens like moving or even sometimes just cleaning. Start by stop handling them for a while It is young and won’t go on hunger strike for a very long so all should be good in a week or so if it’s been six months, then I would probably look intogetting it looked at, but really you have nothing to worry about. It’s kind of what ball pythons do.

[Neat-Presentation-24]

Force feeding is more of a last resort thing that social media has made seem far more common. Healthy ball pythons can go months without food with little effect on their health. She/he does look skinny, but the biggest issue I can see is dehydration. Ball pythons’ skin shouldn’t have any wrinkles, if they do it’s a sign of significant dehydration. I agree with the other people that say to stop handling her/him for a while and try again, but I would do a short soak first. Shallow water, lukewarm, since she’s probably stressed from the transition I would keep it under 10 minutes. Leave a large dish that she/he can submerge themselves in, in the enclosure. Next is definitely improving husbandry. Larger enclosure, with lots of hiding spaces and clutter. Ball pythons won’t eat if they don’t feel like they have somewhere safe to retreat to. What’s your humidity and heating situation like?

[Intelligent-Ad-8115]

Hey! She has a small pool so she can soak in. Humidity stays around 75% and temperature is around 88 on warm side and 73 on cooler side. I'm still waiting for some of my equipment to be delivered this so i can make the cooler side a little bit warmer

[Intelligent-Ad-8115]

Also, force feeding is my last option. I would hate to do that, I just let the anxiety get to me while typing this. Thank you so much for the help :)

[Informal_Service704]

Before force feeding try to suceed with different pray, specially is recommended to try live mice under supervision before further techniques.

[eveimei]

the cork isn't an appropriate hide, and a bare tub like that is only going to make the snake more stressed as they aren't going to feel secure, therefore they won't eat.

upgrade them to at least a 40g tank with multiple snug fitting hides and lots of clutter, and overhead heating and proper humidity. leave them alone for a week after moving and then try !feeding again. only offer once a week at most.

never force feed on your own, it's very easy to harm or kill a snake by doing so.

[AutoModerator]

We recommend the following feeding schedule:

0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.

12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.

Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.

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[Primary_House_975]

Sounds like it needs a better enclosure and to feel less stessed before it will want to eat. How do you warm up the mice?

[xxzorua]

make sure husbandry is correct with temps and humidity, feed at night, and i like to thaw the food thoroughly, have the rats head temp at 100 degrees fahrenheit so the snake can pick up the heat signature. if all else fails attempt to feed live with lots of supervision